Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2024 i Railways Illustrated

It’s not unusual that something happens, or an announcement is made, immediately after I’ve safely dispatched an issue of Railways Illustrated to the printer. That has certainly been the case this month… not once, but twice. No sooner was issue 256 completed, the Labour Party announced plans for the railway should it win the next general election. Then just hours before we sent the final pages to our design team, that election was announced for July 4. If opinion polls are correct – and that’s never a guarantee – it is looking very possible that there could be a Labour government in power after the polling booths close, so the party’s proposals for the railways are worth scrutinising further. More detail can be found on pages 8 and 9… a…

AS THIS issue of Railways Illustrated closed for press, final preparations were underway for the reopening of the Levenmouth line on June 2, which saw trains return to the six-mile route for the first time since the line was closed to passenger in 1969. The official opening celebrations for the £116 million Levenmouth Rail Link took place on May 29, with recently-appointed Scottish First Minister John Swinney MSP joining officials, invited guests and stakeholders from the local community to celebrate the successful conclusion of the project, which has been financed by the Scottish Government and delivered by Network Rail and ScotRail. The newly-revived line is connected to the East Coast Main Line at Thornton Junction and services will be operated from Edinburgh Waverley, via Kirkcaldy. The reopening forms part of…

SOUTHEASTERN HAS published an Invitation to Negotiate with a number of shortlisted bidders as the operator seeks to improve the trains in use on its Metro commuter network. The company is looking at options regarding the replacement or upgrading of its existing Class 465 and Class 466 Networker electric multiple unit fleet. These include the provision of new trains, a suitable cascaded fleet, or upgrading the existing trains which first entered service in 1992 and are now in need of significant investment if they are to remain in service and upgraded to suit the needs of the modern railway. Southeastern’s Metro services link busy London terminals such as Victoria, Charing Cross and Cannon Street with south-east London and parts of Kent, including Dartford, Sevenoaks, Grove Park and Gillingham. The company…

A FOUR-WEEK consultation has been launched which could see the minimum age of train drivers reduced from 20 to 18. The Department for Transport said the proposal would create resilience across the railway by creating a new pathway for school-leavers to take up apprenticeships as drivers. Presently, the average age of train drivers in the UK is 48, and with a large number of drivers expected to take retirement in the next five years, it is projected that the workforce will shrink unless new recruitment opportunities are opened. The DfT also said that attracting more drivers would help the industry provide a more reliable service when staff are off sick or on annual leave. Opening the sector to younger people could be a positive step and would benefit passengers directly…

THE PILOT peak fares removal trial by ScotRail, which has seen off-peak fares applied on ScotRail services throughout the day, has been extended by a further three months to the end of September, newly-installed Scottish First Minister John Swinney MSP has confirmed. The trial, which is being funded by the Scottish Government, came into force in October 2023 as a way of encouraging passengers back onto morning services, with peak fares removed and off-peak fares applied to all ticketing products set and controlled by ScotRail. The trial had been due to end in June, but the announcement means that the pilot will now continue until September 27. Mr Swinney, at an event at Edinburgh Waverley station on May 16, said that by extending the trial, the Scottish Government will be…

THE BLACK Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) unveiled a new look on former Midland Metro Ansaldo-Breda T69 Tram 16, as part of its latest Clean Futures Accelerator demonstration day at the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre (VLRNIC) in Dudley. The tram, which was withdrawn from traffic in August 2015, received a new vinyl wrap to promote its use by the BCIMO in advance of its role during the event on April 30, where it was used by three small or medium-sized enterprises (SME) to showcase innovations being developed as part of the Clean Futures programme, which is led by Connected Places Catapult and delivered by BCIMO in partnership with Coventry University. The two-year programme was launched in July last year and assists Black Country and West Midlands-based SMEs to…

Just a few weeks after the first DB Cargo regeared Class 66/6 locomotive 66651 made its debut, the second regeared locomotive has also entered traffic, having been released from Toton in mid-May. 66652, which was previously numbered 66164, has been converted as part of the DBC’s plans to maximise the efficiency of its fleet, after the freight operator phased out its last remaining operational Class 60s, which were becoming increasing unreliable, earlier this year. The modifications are being carried out by at Toton depot in Nottinghamshire by DBC maintenance and engineering teams. The regearing work will allow the modified locomotives to pull heavier loads, with a 14% increase in tractive effort achieved by the Class 66/6s in comparison with a standard geared Class 66. The first modified DBC locomotive, 66651…

Continued discussions between ministers and train manufacturers regarding potential new train orders have been welcomed by the Railway Industry Association (RIA). Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper has confirmed the Government is talking to Alstom regarding an order for 10 new Class 345 trains for the Elizabeth line, although discussions continue regarding other potential orders for Chiltern Railways, Northern, TransPennine Express, ScotRail and Southeastern, which are all seeking new fleets. RIA chief executive Darren Caplan said: “Suppliers throughout the UK will hope current discussions between ministers and all train manufacturers achieve a positive outcome. The future of rail businesses of all sizes, factories, and jobs depends on the decisions taken by the Government now. “Immediate solutions are clearly needed to mitigate short-term risks and sustain jobs and UK capability.…

Harry Needle Railroad Company says its fleet of ex-Direct Rail Services Class 20/3s will be returned to traffic. HNRC managing director Harry Needle explained that currently active locomotives 20302/311/314 will be joined by 20301/303-305/308/309/312, with four expected to return to traffic this year, although he did not reveal which locomotives these would be. The Swanage Railway diesel gala saw 20302/311 attend for what Mr Needle called ‘testing’ following a recent repaint into HNRail orange at Arlington Fleet Services’ Eastleigh Works. Both locomotives have been fitted with pre-heaters in a similar modification to that also been carried out on HNRC 20168 and 20906, both of which are in use at Hope Cement Works. The fitting of pre-heaters reduces the amount of engine exhaust during start-ups in colder weather conditions and also…

In terms of livery changes this month, perhaps the most notable has been the outshopping of 37608 Andromeda into a green version of the attractive Rail Operations Group livery, which has previously been applied to 37611 Denise and 37800 Cassiopeia in blue. The colour scheme complements the chosen livery carried by the new Class 93 fleet, and the new-look Class 37 was utilised to move 93001 from Worksop to Tyseley for tyre-turning in mid-May. As with all of the Class 37s operated by ROG, the locomotive is owned by Europhoenix and on long-term hire to the operator, with the owner’s branding incorporated into the livery on the cabsides. Another two DB Cargo Class 66s have gained the operator’s red and grey corporate colours, with 66060 and 66653 (previously 66194) the…

THE SWANAGE Railway diesel gala and beer festival on May 10-12 was a commercial success, attracting the highest attendance to the railway since 2018, with 3100 passengers travelling behind the nine locomotives in service. However, the partial derailment of visiting privately-owned 50026 Indomitable at Corfe Castle on the Saturday evening created some operational challenges for the railway’s volunteer organising team, and a new timetable had to be devised for the final day of the event as a result. A statement issued by the railway said: “Evening diesel gala and beer festival train services were suspended after a diesel locomotive was partially derailed at Corfe Castle station on May 11. The Swanage Railway has informed the Government’s independent Rail Accident Investigation Branch, which is investigating the cause of the partial derailment.…

THE NENE Valley Railway in Cambridgeshire is the latest high-profile heritage line to launch a fundraising appeal to safeguard future of its 7.5-mile route in the face of “stark financial challenges.” The £300,000 Back on Track Appeal will enable the railway to maintain operations, conduct essential repairs, and embark on vital infrastructure upgrades and restoration projects to ensure its long-term viability. Dramatically rising operating costs and subdued passenger numbers mean that without immediate financial support from the public, businesses and grant-funders, there is a real risk that the NVR could face closure. Chairman Michael Purcell said: “Nene Valley Railway is more than just a railway attraction; it’s a community of volunteers, a legacy, and a symbol of our industrial heritage. “We are calling upon all those who cherish its heritage…

THE 125 Group is running two short-formed High Speed Trains in passenger service at the Midland Railway – Butterley (MRB) on June 8/9 for the railway’s 1980s Weekend, with all four of the groups’ operational power cars in service – the first time that two separate HSTs have operated at the same event in preservation. The main highlight of the weekend is expected to be the preservation passenger debut of 43025 Exeter, which was due to be transferred from the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) at Ruddington to Swanwick to join the 125 Group’s operational HST fleet in advance of the event. Former First Great Western power car 43025 was bought from Angel Trains in May last year and has been undergoing recommissioning works at Ruddington since. Now serviceable, it was…

THE LONG-DELAYED departure of the last 4-EPB coach at the North-amptonshire Ironstone Railway finally took place on May 8, with DMBS 14351 from set 5176 ending its 22-year stay. However, rather than join sister vehicle 14352 in Kent at the private restoration site at Sellindge, near Ashford, the coach has instead gone to the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway to become part of its increasingly diverse collection of multiple units. The move to Wales is a result of a new partnership between the line and the EPB’s owner, the Suburban Electric Railway Association. This will see 14351 overhauled at Cynheidre to allow it to carry passengers on the line, where it will be joined in due course by DTSO 16117 from 2-EPB set 6307. The latter is undergoing similar work…

Dating from 1976, it could be argued that the Class 56 is one of the railway’s great survivors. An initial order for 60 locomotives was placed, eventually rising to 135 examples. Due to capacity constraints in Britain, the first 30 locomotives were built under a sub-contract to Electroputere in Romania. The first 30 were delivered to British Rail from August 1976 onwards and, eventually, the final locomotives were delivered by BREL Crewe Works in 1984. They were put to work on Merry-Go-Round coal trains in the Midlands, but as the dependency on British coal dropped, they moved to other duties. Withdrawals began in September 1991, when 56042, which had been fitted with experimental CP3 bogies, was condemned, although it would be a further three years before it was scrapped. This…

Throughout the last three decades, a large number of former British-built main line diesel and electric locomotives have been exported to continental Europe for further use or to support operational locomotives as spares donors. In an article published in Railways Illustrated’s sister title, The Railway Magazine, in January 2017, I provided a history of those former British locomotives that had been exported during 1992 to 2016, featuring a table summarising the 87 ex-BR locomotives which could be found in Europe as of November 2016. Much has happened in the intervening years, and this article sets out to update the position since late 2016 and look at the operators which have made use of the exported locomotives. An updated listing, as applicable at the end of April 2024, is provided at…

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FIRSTGROUP PLC is seeking to further expand its open access operations, with the public transport giant submitting the first phase of an application to the Office for Rail and Road to allow it to operate a new service under its Lumo brand between Rochdale and London, which it hopes to start operating from 2027. The company is proposing the operation of six direct return journeys a day between Rochdale and London Euston, with the trains – which are expected to utilise a brand-new fleet of British-built bi-mode electric and battery trains – calling at Manchester Victoria, Eccles, Newton-le-Willows and Warrington Bank Quay, before heading down the West Coast Main Line and terminating at London Euston. FirstGroup said the station at Eccles will provide connectivity to the service for people living…

EAST COAST Main Line principal operator London North Eastern Railway has celebrated the fifth anniversary of its Hitachi-built Azuma trains entering service. The inaugural passenger journey worked by an Azuma took place on May 15, 2019, when the first of the 65-strong train fleet worked between London King’s Cross and Leeds. Since that journey, LNER said the Azuma fleet has travelled a total of more than 58 million miles. The operator’s annual carbon emissions have reduced by 51%, while its annual diesel consumption has been reduced by more than 25 million litres, which represents an 84% annual reduction on diesel fuel usage since the fleet was introduced. The Azuma fleet is made up of 13 nine-coach bi-mode Class 800/1 trains (800101-113), 10 five-coach bi-mode Class 800/2s (800201-210), 12 five-coach electric…

THE PLANNED introduction of a new train fleet for Tyne & Wear Metro took a major step forward in mid-May with the start of daytime testing and mileage accumulation for the new Stadler Class 555 trains which are due to replace the existing Metrocar fleet over the coming months. Nexus has invested £362 million in the modernisation of the Metro network, which covers 48 miles and has 60 stations, through the purchase of 46 Class 555s which are set to transform journeys for passengers on the Newcastle-based light railway. Daytime testing began on May 15 with 555005 operating in gaps between timetabled services on Metro’s coastal route between Newcastle and North Tyneside, simulating how the trains will operate when they are in passenger service. This comes after an extensive programme…

GREAT WESTERN Railway has named one of its Hitachi Class 800 Intercity Express Trains in honour of the Princess Royal to recognise her support for more than 300 charities, organisations and military regiments in the UK and overseas. Princess Anne was joined by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, at London Paddington station on May 2, when representatives from several of the organisations she supports witnessed her unveil her name on Hitachi IET 800024. Above the HRH The Princess Royal name on the cabsides of the IET are vinyl illustrations depicting two sides of a coin, inspired by the brass coins mounted above the number panels on the cabsides of now-preserved former Great Western Railway 4-6-0 steam locomotive 6000 King George V. One coin on the IET features the…

The fate of the dozen Class 90s offered for sale by DB Cargo last September has now been decided, with 10 sold for scrap, although a much brighter future awaits the other two electric locomotives. DBC withdrew its final operational Class 90s in July last year, but in September it offered 90017/018/022/023/025/027/030-033/038/040 for sale. All but two had been stored out of traffic for well over 15 years, with 90025 having been officially stopped more than 20 years ago – in January 2004 – with 90032 following it just one month later. Eight of the locomotives – 90017/022/023/027/030/032/033/038 – have been bought by Sandbach Commercial Dismantlers Ltd and were moved from Crewe Electric Depot to a private yard on an industrial estate in Middlewich, close to Sandbach, Cheshire. It is…

Europhoenix has taken delivery of 37407, with the Class 37/4 returning to action on the main line just three days later. The locomotive was tripped across from DRS’s depot at Crewe Gresty Bridge to UK Rail Leasing’s depot at Leicester on May 13, with 37601 Perseus utilised to transfer its classmate to its new home base. The Class 37, the final example of its type to operate for its previous owner, went on a test run with 37218 on May 16, the first time both had worked for their new owner. The company has confirmed that 37407 receive a replacement set of Blackpool Tower nameplates, and it will also retain its popular existing Large Logo livery. 37218 retains its DRS blue paintwork with Europhoenix branding on the cabsides. Europhoenix also…

Driver training on Hitachi Class 805s has substantially increased following the signing of a Rest Day Working agreement between ASLEF and Avanti West Coast. More Class 805s are now able to be used for training duties, although there is still no confirmed date for the five-car bi-mode units to enter traffic. So far, 805001/002/004/005/007-011 are at Oxley, while 805012/013 have yet to be released from Newton Aycliffe and 805003/006 have been returned to the Hitachi factory for rectification work. The Class 805s will be used to replace Class 221s Super Voyagers on various routes, with three Class 221s, 221114-116, recently stood down from service with AWC. All three are due to be transferred to CrossCountry to supplement their fleet following the withdrawal of CrossCountry’s High Speed Train fleet in September…

The Office of Rail and Road has authorised the 36 five-car Class 730/2s for passenger traffic. As part of the authorisation for the London Northwestern Railway fleet, they are now also allowed to operate in multiple with West Midlands Railway Class 730/0s. The latter are three-car trains that are currently entering traffic. The five-car Class 730/2s are currently being delivered for testing and commissioning by Alstom, from Litchurch Lane, Derby. They are due to enter traffic later this year, albeit at least three years late. A total of 36 sets are on order from Alstom and they will be used on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston, Milton Keynes Central, Birmingham New Street, Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street. Their introduction will allow LNWR to withdraw its 37-strong Class…

There are two locomotive and three unit namings to report for the period under review this month. Firstly, GB Railfreight’s 66308 was named Signalman Willie Taylor in a ceremony at Carlisle station on May 1, in memory of the late Mr Taylor who was on duty at Carlisle on May 1, 1984, when a freight train carrying dangerous chemicals became divided with the uncoupled portion of the train running away towards Carlisle station. His quick actions saw the errant runaway section of the train diverted away from the busy station onto a freight-only line, preventing it from potentially crashing into the station and avoiding a potential disaster, with most of the uncoupled train ending up derailed in the River Caldrew. Members of Mr Taylor’s family attended the naming ceremony exactly…

THE CLASS 73 diesel-electric locomotive purchased 18 month ago for preservation on the railway after which it was named is expected to enter passenger service on the heritage line during the summer, having undergone recommissioning works, maintenance repairs and crew training. E6040 The Bluebell Railway (73133) was privately purchased in December 2022 from Cambrian Transport and, after undergoing bodywork repairs and other minor rectification work at Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works, including a repaint into early BR blue with small yellow warning panels, it moved to its namesake railway at the end of April last year. Class 73 project lead Paul Auckland told Railways Illustrated that the past year saw much attention focussed on recommissioning the Class 73, which has not hauled a passenger train for a number of…

ANY DOUBTS that the Severn Valley Railway would offer a line-up of traction to come close to its unprecedented 2023 Spring Diesel Festival event have been cast aside – with the railway’s 2024 event bringing in 5000-plus passengers. Although final numbers were not confirmed as this issue went to press, SVR managing director Gus Dunster told Railways Illustrated that more than 5100 visitors had attended the four-day event on May 16-19, with lots of positive feedback received from passengers. Taking part from the railway’s home fleet were Class 14 D9551, Class 17 D8568, 20048, 33108, 40106, 50007 Hercules, 50035 Ark Royal and Class 52 D1062 Western Courier. These were joined from the heritage sector by long-term visiting locomotives 37263 and Class 46 D182, and a host of main line locomotives…

FOLLOWING A lengthy period of uncertainty regarding its future, it has been confirmed that two of the vehicles from Class 309 electric multiple unit 309624 have been transferred to the ownership of the East Anglian Railway Museum at Chappel and Wakes Colne, Essex. Meanwhile, the third vehicle has been delivered to the Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway. The three-coach EMU was bought by the Clacton Express Preservation Group from its previous owner on the Lavender Line in 2022 and had remained at Isfield in store following its purchase by the CEPG. However, following the end of its storage agreement and with attempts to sell the EMU having not generated any offers, it was announced that the unit could be sent for scrap if a new home was not found. Discussions…

D8001 – Loughborough: Pilot scheme Class 20 D8001 has moved from the Epping & Ongar Railway to the Great Central Railway for a summer stay, although it did not arrive in time to take part in the April diesel gala. Classmate D8098 currently remains out of traffic at the GCR. 20228 – Toddington: The final tweaks on the locomotive’s thorough overhaul have been completed and the owners are optimistic it will make its much welcome return to traffic at the line’s July diesel event. 25191 – Buckfastleigh: The restoration team removed the main generator from the ‘Rat’ on April 15. It is to be sent away for overhaul after many years out of use. 26040 – Whitrope: Some progress has been made on the radiator bodywork. About three inches of…

There are certain similarities between the High Speed Train export project and Romic Group’s chairman Robert Coleman. A couple of years ago, Robert started to gradually wind down his business after more than four decades buying and selling railway parts, locomotives, and rolling stock on the international market, focusing on his consultancy business as he headed towards a more leisurely period in his life. The HSTs have also had an active career lasting more than four decades, but if you’d asked followers of the design this time last year what the future held for them, most would have predicted that possibly a few more vehicles would enter the preservation sector, with the remainder facing a one-way journey to an appointment with the scrap man. However, fast-forward to spring 2024 and…

WHICH RAILWAYS ILLUSTRATED SUBSCRIPTION SUITS YOU BEST? 1: 12-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION BEST VALUE 12 print issues for £46 Direct Debit 12 print issues for £50 credit/debit card SAVE £17 2: SIX-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION 6 print issues for £24 Direct Debit 6 print issues for £26 credit/debit card SAVE £7.50 WHAT OUR READERS SAY ABOUT RAILWAYS ILLUSTRATED Good all-round coverage from the enthusiasts’ perspective. ALEX KRILL Bloody good read and very informative. KEVIN DELANEY An informative insight into the railways of the past, present and future. PETER BURNETT Railways Illustrated is written by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, providing the latest news and developments on the national rail network and from our standard gauge heritage railways. This is the title for anyone who likes heritage diesel and electric traction, and showcases some of the best…

AN INNOVATIVE railway networking event featuring senior leaders, infrastructure experts, engineers and operations specialists from the East Coast Partnership travelled on an LNER service from Edinburgh to London King’s Cross in mid-May to sample a typical journey from the perspective of a passenger. Known as the Coffee Cup Run, industry experts from Network Rail, LNER, Hitachi Rail and Northern Trains boarded the 09.00 LNER service from Edinburgh. As the train made its way along the East Coast Main Line, the teams assessed the journey to identify potential issues which may impact performance, reliability and safety. The annual event is a revival of an earlier concept, also on the East Coast Route, to place a cup of coffee on a train table and see how much the cup moves, or the…

JUST AS this edition of the magazine went to press, the Prime Minister called a general election for July 4. Labour had just outlined its plans for the railways and the following article had been designed and prepared… we have decided to keep this piece so that you can judge the proposals… Getting Britain Moving: Labour’s Plan To Fix Britain’s Railways was published at the end of April and outlines the party’s pledge to “create a unified and simplified governance structure that places passengers at the heart of the goal, objectives and incentives for the railway, and bring train operators under public ownership and control.” The document, promoted by Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh, outlines six key objectives for passenger rail services: ■ Reliable: Passengers should have…

ALSTOM HAS been awarded a contract worth £8.8 million to carry out repairs and repaints to the 74 four-coach Class 357 Electrostar electric multiple unit fleet operated by c2c, in a project which is expected to take two years to complete. The Electrostar fleet was originally built at Litchurch Lane in Derby by Bombardier, which has since been taken over by Alstom, with the c2c trains leased from Angel Trains and Porterbrook. The work will be done at Ilford depot, which is equipped for heavy maintenance and refurbishment projects. The contract is expected to support the employment of an additional 25 roles at Ilford, while a number of UK suppliers will also be used to provide materials. The scope of work includes repairs to the huck bolt covers, body end…

THE ONGOING efforts by the Branch Line Society to raise funds for Martin House Children’s Hospice in Wetherby has seen another £11,000 raised to assist the charity in supporting families in and around Yorkshire. The BLS operated two charters over the early May Bank Holiday weekend. May 3 saw ‘Return of the Shedi’, and ‘May the Fourth be With You’ took place the following day. The two tours featured a total of 10 locomotives, including Classes 33, 59, 66, and 73 supplied by the 71A Locomotive Group, DB Cargo, Freightliner and GB Railfreight. London Underground’s four-coach 4TC set was used as the coaching stock for both trains. As reported in previous issues, Martin House provides free family-led hospice care for children and young people with life-limiting illnesses. Since the partnership between…

THE NUMBER of remaining Class 507 electric multiple units in service on the Merseyrail network dropped to nine operational members in early May following the removal from traffic of 507011/015, with the final members of the 1978-built vehicles expected all to be withdrawn later in the summer. The final nine sets in service are 507001/003/007/010/016/017/018/023/029, with the vintage EMUs being utilised on the Hunts Cross to Southport line, where three six-coach Class 507 sets have been working on diagrams between Monday and Saturday each week. On May 7, withdrawn 507028/033 were moved from Birkenhead North to Sims Metals in Newport for scrapping, although two vehicles from 507028 (64432 and 71369) are being returned to Liverpool by road for future use with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. The most recent withdrawals…

Transport for Wales Rail has confirmed the purchase of two Class 67s recently offered for sale by DB Cargo, with one of the pair destined to be returned to service. DBC advertised its proposals to sell 10 of its 28-strong Class 67 fleet in December last year, those being 67001/003/004/009/011/018/019/026/028/030. While the purchasers of eight of the locomotives have yet to be identified, TfW confirmed to Railways Illustrated in May that the company had bought 67026/028. A spokesman for the operator said that 67028 is likely to be used on long-distance locomotive-hauled services in the future, while 67026 is to be used as a spares donor, yielding its major components. At the time the locomotives were offered for sale, 67028 was still in an operating pool with the freight company,…

THE EAST Lancashire Railway has launched fundraising appeals to help secure the future of two major pieces of the railways infrastructure. Regular maintenance inspections are carried out on structures along the whole of the 12-mile Heywood to Rawtenstall heritage line, but recent assessments have shown that Higher Woodhill Viaduct, close to Burrs Country Halt, now requires additional maintenance to be completed within the next 18 months to ensure that it can continue to serve the ELR into the future. A Just Giving page – with a target of £50,000 – has been set up by the railway, and just under £5000 had been donated as this issue was being prepared. The railway is also seeking expressions of support to demonstrate how important the ELR is to the community and the…

THE SOUTHERN Electric Traction Group is progressing with another project on preserved Class 423 4VEP third-rail electric multiple unit 3417 Gordon Pettitt at Strawberry Hill, as the group continues its efforts to see the four-coach unit recertified for carrying passengers on the main line. Requirements for main line operation have changed significantly since the unit was retired from everyday service almost two decades ago. As well as the requirement to fit additional mandatory safety equipment and central door locking to 3417, it is also likely that modifications would be required to prevent the door window droplights from being opened low enough to allow someone to lean out or place a part of their body outside and into a potentially harmful position. Therefore, using a design previously created by the Network…

AFTER A busy month for heritage railway diesel events, June shows no sign of slowing down, with a number of our major heritage lines hosting events catered for diesel enthusiasts. The month began with the Llangollen & Corwen Railway’s Diesel and Industrial Heritage Event, which took place just before this issue was published, so the first event previewed here is the West Somerset Railway’s Summer Diesel Festival on June 6-8. The home-based locomotives expected to be in use are Class 03 D2133, Class 14 D9526, Class 33s D6566/D6575 and Class 35 Hymek D7017, and these will be joined on the Bishops Lydeard to Minehead route by 20142 Sir John Betjeman and 20189 courtesy of Michael Owen, the Bury Type Two Group’s Class 24 D5054 Phil Southern, the Peak Locomotive Company’s…

THE CLASS 507 Preservation Society has launched a fundraising appeal to assist with the costs of transporting pioneer Class 507 electric multiple unit 507001 to its new home at the Nant Mawr visitor centre on the Tanat Valley Light Railway, following the unit’s withdrawal from service with Merseyrail later this summer. The society was established in 2023 to preserve one of the Merseyrail EMUs, which are now the oldest passenger multiple units still in daily timetabled use, having entered service in 1978. The introduction of the new Stadler Class 777s, however, has seen the Class 508s that worked on the Merseyrail network eradicated, with the remaining Class 507s now in their final months of service as the introduction of the new train fleet advances. Agreement has been reached between the…

BLUE AND grey-liveried Class 421 3CIG electric multiple unit 1497 Freshwater has moved to the Lavender Line at Isfield following the end of a seven-year stay on the Spa Valley Railway. The first vehicle of the three-coach EMU was delivered to its new home on April 30, with the remaining two vehicles following the next day. The unit is privately owned and will be used as hauled stock on the Lavender Line, with the railway planning on using its Class 09 D4113 (09025) to work services with the 3CIG. 1497 was one of two 3CIG EMUs to be retained by Stagecoach-operated South Western Trains for use on the Lymington branch line, which saw the slam-door trains operate services on the line until they were withdrawn from traffic by SWT in…

Railway photography for me is about two things: a record for capturing a point in time to preserve a memory and an art form to create a great-looking image. Sometimes for me that is to recreate an essence of how things used to be. I’m always looking out for a composition that takes me back to when I was young, particularly the early 1980s. I like the challenge of capturing an image that looks almost like it could have been taken in the past. This is hard because modern details creep into the scene. It requires a suitable subject, an appropriate backdrop, often some tight composition to exclude modernity, and some compromises. It’s rarely going to be a perfect recreation of the past, but it is great fun trying to…

Earlier this year I enjoyed a week on holiday in Devon with my family. Conveniently, our accommodation was located in Crediton, which gave me the opportunity to pay a return visit by train along the reopened Dartmoor line to Okehampton to take a look at the fantastic restoration work carried out on the station building at the terminus of the rejuvenated route from Exeter St David’s. The Dartmoor line has been a huge success story and was the first route to see daily timetabled services reinstated under the Government’s Reopening Your Railway initiative, with Network Rail returning the line to the necessary passenger standards in time for its reopening in November 2021. I last visited Okehampton in August 2022 for a feature on the reopened line and the work…